Darren Young Says He Was ‘Terrified” To Come Out, Wanted To Take Boyfriend To Events

By Amish Patel -
October 3, 2013

As disclosed Wednesday, Darren Young opens up to People in the Oct. 14 issue about his sexuality. Quotes from the article have surfaced online and it is revealed that the WWE Superstar was terrified to come out of the closet.

“I was terrified of losing friends, losing my job, just everything,” Young said. “I had no idea what would happen if I came out.”

Young’s decision to come out was not an easy one. Family and close friends found out two years ago while he was competing on WWE NXT, but he continued to live a troubling “double life.”

Young explained that he was “tired of hiding” and that he “wanted to be able to take [boyfriend of two years Niccolo ‘Nick’ Villa] with me to WWE functions.” He also wanted to be able to go out to dinner without looking over his shoulder, hold hands in public, and do other things heterosexual couples do without hesitation.

Young, who’s real name is Fredrick Douglas Rosser III, went public on Aug. 15 in an impromptu airport interview with a TMZ cameraman. The WWE Superstar, however, immediately second-guessed the decision.

“It was spur of the moment, and I said what I said and I was confident. But when I left, I said to myself, “What the hell did I just do?” Young said. “I went straight to my hotel room and I was sick as a dog, throwing up and crying. I was terrified of how people would perceive me.”

Despite his fears, Young was greeted with support by not only the sports-entertainment organization’s management and fans, but his colleagues as well.

“His sexual orientation never had anything to do with him as a person, and at the end of the day it shouldn’t matter,” said tag team partner Titus O’Nell.

“They all embraced me, and that was just shocking to me. I truly love them,” Young said. “It was such a relief. I’m not hiding anymore and I’m living the dream.”